Yahoo buys OnTheAir as part of push into mobile

GlobalPost

Yahoo is making good on its pledge to push into the mobile market, announcing today that it had snapped up video-chat start-up OnTheAir.

OnTheAir, which USA Today reported was a cross between Skype and Google+ Hangouts, was started by five friends in March with the aim of building a company “that made a difference in the daily lives of millions,” according to its website.

As part of the deal, the five-man team comprising Abel Allison, Daniel Hopkins, Erik Goldman, Josh Schwarzapel, and Mike Kerzhner will be employed by Yahoo.

“It’s a fascinating time to be joining Yahoo! There’s a tremendous amount of energy in the company. There are big things to be done and great products to be built, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it,” they said in a statement.

Yahoo confirmed the deal in an email, PCMag reported. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Hiring the most talented mobile product thinkers and engineers is a big priority for us moving forward," Yahoo's senior vice president of emerging products and technology, Adam Cahan, said in a statement.

TechCrunch reported that OnTheAir enables people to set up "adhoc webinars that can be watched over live stream by large audiences."

In October, Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer said the company would modernize its websites and make them more smartphone friendly as the company focused on making “world’s daily habits inspiring and entertaining.”

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